Demaryius Thomas can finally play in front of his mother thanks to an act of mercy from Barack Obama.

The Denver Broncos wide receiver was just 11 years old when, on the morning of March 15, 1999, he looked out of his window to see the house surrounded by police.

As he boarded the school bus, his mother and grandmother were led away in handcuffs. A year later they were convicted on charges of possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute.

His mum, Katina Smith, was given 20 years while his gran was sentenced to life in prison.

And even when her sentence was commuted by presidential order last summer, Smith still couldn’t see her son play for the first time because of a travel ban that meant she could not leave the state of Georgia.

Safe hands: Thomas will be a key man for Denver on Sunday (Image: Getty)

She finally got to see him play in person for the first time three weeks ago when Denver beat Pittsburgh in the playoffs and she will be in Levi’s Stadium on Sunday night as Thomas takes on the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50.

A thrilled Thomas said: “It means the world. I never thought I’d be in this situation where my mom would be able to come out and see me play. Now that she can, she’s just as excited.

“She’s probably nervous right now. It’s her second time flying and then just being around all the people.